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05/05/2010: "Violence in Manipur over ban on rebel Naga leader’s visit SindhToday"

Violence in Manipur over ban on rebel Naga leader’s visit SindhToday

Senapati (Manipur), May 5 (ANI): Unknown armed miscreants in Manipur’s Senapati District bordering Nagaland resorted to arson and torched Manipur bound trucks to protest against the ban imposed on the proposed visit of Thuingaleng Muivah, the rebel Naga leader.
The incident occurred late on Tuesday night in the vicinity of Manipur-Nagaland border along the National Highway from Zakhama in Nagaland to Imphal in Manipur via Senapati district.
Apprehending unrest among the ethnic Nagas residing in Senapati and Ukhrul regions, the Manipur Government has banned the entry of Thuingaleng Muivah, the leader of the rebel National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) into Manipur, where he has planned to visit his ancestral place Somdal, where he was born.
He had proposed to visit Somdal, located in Ukhrul district, between May 3 and 10.
The miscreants torched five Manipur-bound trucks. Police suspect it to be an act of local Nagas’ anger at the government’s decision barring Muivah’s entry.
Local administration officials confirmed the violence.
‘Yes the trucks have been burnt by miscreants. We still don’t know, who have done it. I don’t know much as I was out of station. As far as I know, five trucks have been burnt. Fortunately, we have not received any news of anybody being injured,’ said Linda Soro, Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Zakhama, Nagaland.
Meanwhile, the ethnic Nagas residing in and around Senapati and Ukhrul regions of Manipur vent their anger at the ban on Muivah’s visit.
They staged a demonstration at Maram Bazar village here demanding the ban to be withdrawn.
‘We are sitting in protest in opposition of the Manipur Government decision taken against the Muivah’s visit. We want him to visit his native place. We welcome him, because after 40 years working outside for the Nagas, we want him back. We want him to come and see his brothers, sisters, uncles and all his Naga people,’ said Kanga Regina, a resident of Maram Bazar village.
‘But since these promissory given by the Central Government, Manipur Government is opposing. So we want everybody to reflect on it, we want him back and we welcome him,’ he added.
According to the truck drivers, whose vehicles were held up and later torched mentioned that a group of unknown armed people came in a vehicle and torched their trucks.
As per latest reports, security forces in Manipur are escorting the stranded inter-state passenger buses and 22 laden trucks coming from Guwahati via Nagaland and entering Manipur at Mao border check post. (ANI)
[NF]
Dr Manmohan Singh,
Honourable Prime of India
Delhi,
3rd May, 2010

ULTIMATUM : ON THE SITUATION ARISING OUT OF THE MANIPUR STATE’S CABINET DECISION TO BAN THE ENTRY OF MR. TH. MUIVAH, ATO KILONSER, GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF NAGALIM INTO MANIPUR.

1. The proposed visit of Mr. Muivah to his Native village is for making peace and not for waging war with any community or state. It is the birthright of every person to visit the place of his birth. Mr. Muivah will be visiting his native village to meet his villagers, relatives and to promote peace in the region.

2. If the visit of Muivah is not allowed to be taken up by the Manipur State Government, it is our decision that the Manipur State Government will be solely responsible for any consequences arising out of the situation.

3. It was with the knowledge and consent of the Government of India, that the proposed visit of Mr Muivah is being undertaken. Therefore, allowing the ban by the Manipur State Government speaks volumes about the double standard and insincerity on the part of the Government of India in the Indo-Naga peace talks.

4. If the Government of India cannot prevail over the Manipur State Government to lift the ban on Muivah’s entry within 24 hours of the receipt of this ultimatum, we will have no option but to take any action that we will consider appropriate and edifying in our quest for our rightful place.

(P. Chuba Ozukum) ( Sarah Nuh)
General Secretary Vice-President
Naga Hoho Naga Mother’s Association


( Mutsikhoyo Yhobu ) ( Dr. N. Venuh)
President Secretary General,
Naga Students’ Federation Naga People’s Movement
For Human Rights
Copy for information to :-
1. Hon’ble Home Minister, Government of India
2. Hon’ble Chief Minister, Govt. of Manipur
3. Hon’ble Chief Minister, Govt. of Nagaland
4. Mr. R.S. Pandey, Chief Interlocutor, Government of India,.
We won’t claim anything which belongs to Meiteis: Muivah Agencies
NSCN (I-M) leader Thuingaleng Muivah said his visit to Manipur, which has been banned by the state government fearing unrest, is not aimed at disturbing anyone and his outfit would not stake claim to anything that belongs to non-tribal Manipuris.
“The opposition to my visit by the Meiteis came as a surprise...the visit is for peace, to meet family and friends and not to disturb anyone...We will not claim anything which belongs to the Meiteis, let them have theirs, we will only have what is rightfully ours,” the 75-year-old Naga leader told reporters at NSCN(I-M) headquarters in Dimapur late last night.
NSCN-IM, one of the oldest and powerful rebel groups in northeast, is demanding greater Nagaland which it proposed to be formed by merging Naga populated areas of adjoining states with Nagaland, which has been rejected by Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh governments.
The rebel outfit, which is now holding fresh talks with the central government since March, had entered into a ceasefire agreement in August 1997.
The Naga leader will depart for Ukhrul in Manipur today from NSCN-IM headquarters Camp Hebron and stay at his native village Somdal till May 7. He will visit Ukhrul town on May 8 and return to Somdal to celebrate Mother’s Day. On May 10, he is scheduled to visit the nearby Senapati district before returning to Dimapur.
Muivah will be escorted by members of various Naga civil society organizations en route to his native village Somdal in Ukhrul district where large contingents of police personnel have been deployed and prohibitory orders clamped at Mao gate, the entry point to Manipur from Nagaland.
The rebel leader, who is visiting Somdal after 47 years, hailed the Naga civil societies for their support.
“I must go there and no force can stop me. My parents had died waiting to meet their son,” said an emotional Muivah, who recently arrived in Nagaland after holding second round of peace talks with the Centre.
The real Naga issue vis- a-vis the Manipur Naga issue Kaka D. Iralu
The present Naga-Manipur issue that has arisen from the intended visit of Muivah to his native village of Somdal in the Manipur state of India is but a mere ripple of the wider Indo- Naga-Burma international issue. The bigger international issue is one of whether a European (Caucusian) race who have absolutely no land ownership rights over Asian Mongolian-Naga lands can dissect Naga lands into pieces and give it as presents to India and Burma? Secondly, the corollary issue is whether a Dravido-Aryan race called Indians and a Ava-Burman (Khonbuang) race called Myanmarese can claim these Naga lands as their own lands because Britain had bequeathed it to them?
This bigger issue is not an inter-state boundary dispute between the Indian Manipur state and the so called Nagaland state of India. It is in reality, an international issue over the rights of a nation to their ancestral geographical lands. The issue is whether Nagas, like any other nations on earth have a right to live in their own land free from foreign invasion and domination. The issue therefore is an international issue and not an internal Indian issue that can be solved by the Home Ministry of India. Far from it, its solution can come only from the corridors of an international Court of Law or an endless protracted war of self defense against invasion forces. The Nagas have been defending as well as pursuing both these fronts for the past sixty three years against overwhelming odds.
If however, some Naga leaders will pursue a Federal relationship with India or integration of Naga territories under the Constitution of India, then they will betray the Naga national cause and ripples and tensions like the one we are experiencing now will continue to plaque us for all times to come.
In this connection, one also wonders whether our Mongolian neighbor nations- the Ahoms of Assam and Meeteis of Manipur are aware of their international rights to their ancestral lands. As far as South Asian history is concerned, it is a fact that no Indian invasion forces, whether led by a Hindu king or a Muslim Emperor, had ever been able to cross the Brhamaputra River. The corollary question therefore is: How then have these two sovereign independent kingdoms and nations become a part of India after the Indian Independence Act of 1947? If they have joined the Indian union through their own volition, then the matter must end there. If however force or coercion had been used, then it is quite a different matter because in the process of this union, in the case of Manipur, the whole of the Kabaw valley and the Somra tract were ceded to Burma.
As for Nagas, even though their ancestral lands have been dissected into Burma, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and the tiny Indian created state of Nagaland, they are still quite clear about their boundary lines. They are absolutely clear about these boundaries because their ancestors have been living in these lands from time immemorial and their offspring are still living there. These lands have been bequeathed to them by God and their ancestors and it is their most treasured possession on earth. This is so, because on the whole face of the earth, this is the only land that belongs to them. Therefore let no neighbor or foreigner ever think that the Nagas will ever surrender their lands to anybody else and become refugees in their own lands.
Dear Naga brethren, Mr.Fuganba Peace Consortium for Assam & Manipur.
Guwahati.
We are confused on your claim of Nagalim. Your claim is motivated and encouraged by some Indian agencies from outside NE. It seems that you are not realizing the hidden agenda of "Divide & Rule" policy by Indian Govt.

Let's have a close look to your claim:

1. Is naga history older than Assam or Manipur? If yes, where is the evidence and proof?

2. Could you claim part of Delhi or Tamil Nadu etc. where nagas are settled? If you claim, do you know what would happen?

3. Are dreaming of a peaceful state to live after disturbing and creating unhappiness your neighbors? Do you think that we people in Assam and Manipur would sit/sleep quietly after so much of disturbances for so long?

4. The fact is, if you don't learn to live friendly, peacefully and co-existentially with your neighbours, the day would come for you to live like in hell.

5. How long would you disturb your neighbor states? Don't you know there is limit for everything which exist on earth. kindly remember that you are surrounded on east,west,south, north.

6. Please be practical in your approach. Whoever nagas want to live in Nagaland, they are free to go and live there,we support that. And whoever nagas want to live in Assam and Manipur,they could live as long as they accept themselves as part of the state.

7. Philippinos live in USA in millions since time immemorial, but they can't create/claim 2nd Philippines in USA. Hope you know why?

8. There are millions of Manipuris living in Bangladesh & Myanmar since time immemorial, do you think we can claim that part of that Bangladesh and Myanmar to be part of Manipur or 2nd Manipur? We would not dream of that b'coz we are not crazy people like you.

9. The point is: we can live wherever we want as long as we maintain the tranquility of that place/state, but we can not claim the place as our Nation or State. If we do arrogantly, that would craziest idea, inviting trouble ourselves.

Therefore, dear naga brethren, please wake up and realize the reality.

It's not time to fight among ourselves, it's time to face the dynamic world. World is moving too fast.We have to catch it up.

If we/you don't do it, the situation would become worse day-by-day eminently, we guarantee that.

Kindly & concisely leave the violence. It's 21st Century, Let's live together and respect each other like before. Look beyond the horizon and think 'out of box'.

We, NE people have miles to go/run to catch up the speed of the 21st century World.

Peace and development to NE.

A brother from Assam/Manipur,

Mr.Fuganba Peace Consortium for Assam & Manipur. Guwahati.
Ban on Muivah visit denounced by Naga bodies Sobhapati Samom Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, May 4 – Denouncing the Manipur Government’s decision to prevent National Socialist Council of Nagalim(IM)’s General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah’s visit to his native Somdal village in Ukhrul district, Nagas in Manipur’s Senapati, Chandel, Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts defying prohibitory orders staged sit-in demonstrations and protest rallies at the district headquarters today.
Manipur Chief Minister chaired Cabinet meeting on April 30 last had decided not to allow NSCN-IM leader’s proposed visit from May 3-10 fearing disturbance in peaceful coexistence of the communities.
The demonstrators at the district headquarters displayed placards reading “Nagas are one”, “Down with Ibobi Government”, “Don’t divide Nagas”, sources said. Protesting the Cabinet decision and shouting anti-government slogans, thousands of Nagas had staged a protest rally in the district headquarter on Sunday night also.
The Senapati district administration had imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr Pc since Sunday night and at Ukhrul from Monday to avoid any untoward incidents.
Meanwhile, Naga frontal organisations have sought Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s intervention into the ongoing impasse over Muivah’s visit.
Nagaland-based Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers Association, Naga Students Federation, Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights in a joint ultimatum to the Prime Minister said, “If the visit of Muivah is not allowed to be taken up by the Manipur Government, it is our decision that the Manipur Government will be solely responsible for any consequences arising out of the situation”.
“If the Government of India cannot prevail over the Manipur Government to lift the ban on Muivah’s entry within 24 hours of the receipt of this ultimatum, we will have no option but to take any action that we will consider appropriate, it said.
The United Naga Council, Manipur in a representation to Prime Minister said the proposed visit is for making peace at the grass root, create better understanding and relationship with different communities.
Inspector General of Police Manipur V Zathang accompanied by Senior Superintendent of Police of Imphal West district L Kailun have been camping since yesterday at Mao Gate in Senapati district bordering Nagaland to prevent Muivah’s entry. Another police team is reportedly camping at Jessami village, another entry point in Ukhrul district bordering Nagaland’s Phek district.
PTI adds: Defying the ban, Muivah is likely to begin his journey to Manipur tomorrow morning from Dimapur with members of Naga civil society organisations as escorts for a safe transit.
The Naga leader’s proposed visit to Somdal would be the first in four decades.
Meanwhile, Naga Students Federation (NSF) imposed an indefinite blockade on the movement of all vehicles bearing Manipur registration numbers in the Naga-inhabited areas of the region from this evening, NSF sources said. – PTI
NDFB links with Pak come to light Staff Reporter Assam tribune
GUWAHATI, May 4 – The Pakistan links of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) came to light following the arrest of the chief of the outfit, Ranjan Daimary. It has also come to light that the outfit recently set up a camp in Myanmar.
Security sources told The Assam Tribune that personnel of different security agencies are relentlessly questioning Daimary and during the course of the questioning, it has come to light that the NDFB was maintaining links with Pakistan. Sources said that at least two batches of NDFB men were sent to Pakistan for training with the support of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). However, the exact number of militants who received training in Pakistan is yet to be ascertained.
The NDFB was also maintaining close ties with different anti-India groups having bases in Bangladesh. Sources said that the NDFB launched joint operations with the ULFA from time to time but the outfit also maintained close ties with other groups like NSCN (I-M), UNLF, ATTF, NLFT etc, as well as with some other anti-India groups in the neighbouring country.
Under pressure in Bangladesh, the NDFB anti-talk faction recently established a camp in Myanmar. But the camp has not been set up with the help of the ULFA and is located near a camp of Manipur-based group KYKL, sources said. Though Myanmar has also accepted a proposal from India to launch a coordinated operation, the militants are of the view that the Government of Myanmar would be too busy with the elections due soon rather than launching a concerted operation immediately, sources added.
On the strength of the anti-talk faction of the NDFB, sources said that though the outfit suffered severe setbacks in recent times due to the success of the counter-insurgency operations against the outfit, the group still has the capability of indulging in acts of violence. Sources said that all the security forces must remain alert to thwart any attempt by the members of the outfit from indulging in any act of violence in retaliation to the arrest of Daimary.
According to an assessment by the security forces, at least a hundred trained cadres of the outfit are still in Assam, while, around 50 cadres must be in Bangladesh.